A general idea or insight conveyed by the work in its entirety THEME A general idea or insight conveyed by the work in its entirety

Theme Terminology Fables – fairytales and folktales that explicitly state their themes Moral – rule of conduct or maxim for living

Tips for Identifying Theme Pay attention to title List any recurring phrases and words, especially those for abstract concepts Identify any statements that the characters or narrators make about a general concept, issue or topic such as human nature, the natural word, etc. If a character changes over the course of the story, articulate the truth or insight that he or she seems to discover Identify a conflict depicted in the work and state it in general terms or turn it into a general question